RUNAGROUND

Electronic pop producer and singer/songwriter RUNAGROUND named his project in honor of his grandfather, whose ship "ran aground" in the Pacific during World War II. He describes it as a moment in life when going off course can be the best thing for one's journey. His career moves have been similar. Born Andy Kirk near Nashville, Tennessee, he grew up playing drums, listening to gospel, and playing in local bands. After a series of unfruitful label signings, he veered off the expected course and took his music to social media. His covers of hits by Ellie Goulding, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, and Maroon 5 -- even Johnny Cash's version of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt" -- among many others, would help him amass a sizable following. In 2014, he released his Anti-Gravity EP, a four-song collection of originals. The next year, he not only signed with Robbins Entertainment/Sony Records, but also starred on the television music competition Breaking Band, with Moby as a mentor. In addition, he released the single "Stars Come Out" featuring Disco Fries, sang on EDM producer Mark with a K's "See Me Now," and performed his song "We Are One" at the 80th birthday celebration for the Dalai Lama. That same song was released in November 2015 after the Paris terrorist attacks as a show of Kirk's support. He continued to release new songs, with the singles "Chase You Down" and "Can I Keep It?" arriving in March 2016, amidst plans for a proper full-length debut. ~ Neil Z. Yeung, Rovi